Digit embracing surgical pads



Get 5 W65 M. R. LEvlTT 3,209,750

DIGIT EMBRACING SURGICAL PADS Filed March 51,, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet l I IENTOR. ram .2 lV/l'i A ORNE Y Oct. 5, 1965 M. R. LEVITT DIGIT EMBRACINGSURGICAL PADS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 31. 1961 INVENTOR. mime4467/77 ATTOR EYS United States Patent 3,209,750 DIGIT EMBRACINGSURGICAL PADS Milton R. Levitt, New Brunswick, N.J., assignor to TheScholl Mfg. (20., Inc., Chicago, 11]., a corporation of New York FiledMar. 31, 1961, Ser. N0- 99,866 8 Claims. (Cl. 1Z8153) This inventionrelates to improvements in digit embracing surgical pads, and moreparticularly to pads having a digit loop by means of which the pad maybe attached to a finger or toe for the purpose of protecting andrelieving an aflliction from friction and pressure, the instantinvention being highly desirable for use in connection with thealleviation of hammer toes and the corn usually associated therewith aswell as otherwise contracted and deformed digital joints, although theinvention will have other uses and purposes as will be apparent to oneskilled in the art.

'In the past, many and various types of digital embracing pads and thelike have been developed but in most instances, either before or afterapplication to the foot there was a scam in the structure joiningportions of the digit loop means, and many times that seam wasreinforced by the addition of extra material such as a thin layer ofrubber or the like. Where the pad was preformed, the seam required anexpensive operation in the manufacture of the pad, and in all cases theseam would be located usually opposite the pad body where it could leastbe tolerated by the user, and in any event the seam presents a weak spotin the structure. In the case of a hammer toe, contracted toe, or thelike the involved joint is normally the widest part of the toe and isvery frequently swollen while the joint is at the same time contracted.Consequently, the sulcus of the joint is least able to accommodate thetoe embracing loop, and particularly so if a portion of the loop at thesulcus was stiffened by reinforcing or had a seam therein which wouldmake it stiffer than the remaining portion of the pad structure.Likewise, such digital embracing pads heretofore were so made that thetoe encircling band would pass directly over the enlarged or swollenjoint at the sides thereof, and while the body of the pad would relievefriction and pressure from the top of the contracted joint and the cornusually accompanying the same, the band would add new and differentpressure to the sides of the swollen joint and aggravate such condition.In addition, it might be mentioned that digit encircling surgical padsof the types heretofore made when placed around a digital joint wouldfrequently slip or be accidentally brushed to one side of the joint, andif that joint were swollen it was virtually impossible for that pad toregain its proper position, causing perturbation and annoyance when thepad was used around a toe inside an article of footwear.

With the foregoing in mind, it is an important object of the instantinvention to provide a digit embracing surgical pad embodying no seamconstruction which could contact any part of the digit, which eliminatesthe weak ness of a scam in the band portion of the device, and which maybe economically manufactured.

Another important feature of the instant invention resides in theprovision of a digit embracing surgical pad so constructed that whenused with the body portion of the pad on the top of a digit joint thedigit encircling band or means engage the digit in front of and behindthe sides of the joint, whereby if that joint is swollen nothing extendsdirectly over it and the pad actually relieves the sides of the jointitself from friction and pressure.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a surgical padhaving digit loop means so arranged that 3,209,750 Patented Get. 5, 1965when the pad is placed over a digital joint the loop means do not engageover the sides of that joint and the pad cannot slip forward or rearwardaway from the joint or accidentally be brushed to such position.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a surgical padhaving digital embracing means providing a soft, seamless,non-irritating, and relatively narrow holding portion at the sulcus of ajoint whereby the pad may be comfortably fitted over a hammer toe,contracted or deformed joint, or the like.

It is still a further desideratum of the instant invention to provide asurgical pad highly desirable for the alleviation of a hammer toe andthe usually associated corn which pad is provided with toe encirclingmeans and a cushioning extension leading forwardly from the toeencircling means at a point opposite the body of the pad to underlie andsupport the afllicted toe.

'An additional feature of this invention resides in the provision of adigit embracing surgical pad having a pair of superposed body portionssecured. together in face to face relationship connected together by aplurality of digit embracing members thicker bet-ween said body partsand a region opposite said body parts.

It is a still further feature of the instant invention to provide adigit embracing surgical pad highly desirable for use in connection withafflicted joints, and which comprises a pair of body parts superposedand secured together in face to face relationship with an integralX-f-ormation joining the body parts and forming digit embracing meanstherewith, the web of the X-formation being disposed opposite the bodyparts.

While some of the more salient features, characteristics, and advantagesof the instant invention have been above pointed out, others will becomeapparent from the following disclosures, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary plan perspective view illustrating a surgicalpad embodying principles of the instant invention in proper positionupon a human foot to alleviate a hammer toe condition;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary diagrammatic view illustrating thepad of FIGURE 1 in side elevation around the joint of a hammer toe;

FIGURE 3 is a greatly enlarged central vertical sectional view throughthe pad itself;

FIGURE 4 is an interior plan view of the open blank from which the padis formed;

FIGURE 5 is an interior plan view of a blank for forming a pad ofslightly different construction;

FIGURE 6 is an interior plan view of a blank for forming a pad havinganother variant construction;

FIGURE 7 is a similar View of a blank illustrating a further modifiedconstruction;

FIGURE 8 is a similar view of a blank for a pad having thickened arms orstrap members in the X-formation except at the web of the X;

FIGURE 9 is a magnified vertical sectional view taken substantially asindicated by the line IX-IX of FIG- URE 8, looking in the direction ofthe arrows;

FIGURE 10 is an interior plan view of a blank for a pad having anextension to underlie and support a hammer toe; and

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary magnified vertical sectional view takensubstantially as indicated by the line XI-XI of FIGURE 10.

As shown on the drawings:

A relatively large number of variations: in the structure of the instantinvention have been illustrated in the drawings, and it will be notedthat other variations in structure might be incorporated, as will beapparent to one skilled in the art, without departing from theprinciples of the instant invention. A digit embracing surgical pad ofthe character of the instant invention may be provided with like bodyparts and no apertures, like body parts with variant apertures, likebody parts with like apertures, variant body parts with no apertures,variant body parts with like apertures, and variant body parts withvariant apertures. Any desired one of these arrangements may beincorporated in any of the illustrated pads. Likewise, the curvate armsor straps of .the X-formation of FIGURE may be incorporated with any ofthe other pads having an X-formation and the same is true with theexceedingly narrow web of the X-formation seen in FIGURE 6. It istherefore to be understood that variations in structure may be coupledas may be desired or deemed necessary with any of the illustrated padstructures.

Preferably the instant invention comprises a pad formed from a singleintegral blank that can readily be stamped out of a sheet of stockmaterial. While the pad may be constructed of many and variousmaterials, a stretchable and elastic laminated material has been foundhighly satisfactory. For example, to provide the desired cushioningeffect and provide the pad with a soft and yielding feel a layer of foammaterial might be utilized on the side contacting the flesh. This layerof foam cushioning material may be foam latex, or a plastic foam such aspolyurethane foam or polyvinyl chloride foam. The foam layer ispreferably covered by a much thinner layer or film of stretchable andelastic material such for example as the thin rubber sheeting commonlyused for dental dams. These materials are laminated together in anysuitable or desired manner, by adhesive, vulcanization, etc. Theresultant material is both stretchable and elastic so that the digitloop will intimately and positively embrace a digit, without discomfortto the user. For convenience, all of the variations in the padconstruction illustrated have been shown as made of the same materialcomprising a foam cushioning layer 1 and a thin stretchable cover layer2, as seen in FIGURE 3.

The pad seen in FIGURE 3 is made from the blank shown in FIGURE 4, andcomprises a pair of like body parts 3 and 4 having affliction receivingopenings 5 and 6 respectively, the opening 6 being shown larger than theopening 5 in this instance, although the size of the aperturees may bevaried as desired. The body parts 3 and 4 are connected by anX-formation comprising a pair of arms or straps 7 and 8 converging fromrelatively widely separated points on the body 3, and similar arms 9 and10 on the body 4, such arms being joined at the Web 11 of theX-formation. When the blank is folded to bring the body parts 3 and 4 insuperposed relationship, these body parts are secured together in anysuitable manner such as by a light stretchable adhesive. In thisinstance, the body 4 is next the flesh of the user with the wideraffliction receiving aperture 6 adjacent the afiiiction, and the smalleraperture 5 outermost where the aflliction would naturally be of smallersize. The web 1 1 of the X-formation is disposed opposite to thesuperposed body arts. p By way of example the pad just above desrcibedis shown associated in proper position with a hammer toe, in FIGURES land 2. In placing the pad upon the foot, it is stretched over a hammertoe 12 having a contracted or deformed joint between the proximal andmedial phalanges. Usually there will be a corn on top of that joint andwhen the pad is placed in position, the corn is received in theafiiict-ion receiving openings 5 and 6 with the longer portion of thebody extending ahead of or behind the corn, as the case may be, inposition to receive the greatest amount of pressure from a shoe, removethat pressure from the afflicted joint and aid in straightening the toe.Now it will be noted that between the arms or straps 9 and 10 there is arelatively wide opening 13 through which the side of the joint projects.The opposite side of the joint projects between the arms or straps 7 and8 on the other side of the pad. The web 11 of the X-formation isreceived in the sulcus of the joint. The

elasticity of the pad causes it to gently but firmly seat over the jointand embrace the toe ahead of and behind the joint.

During the wearing of the pad the same condition prevails on both sidesof the joint. Such a joint is usually swollen, and in this instance theside 14 of the swollen joint projects into the opening 13 between thearms 9 and 10 of the pad. There is no danger of the pad slipping fromproper position because the arm 9 is in front of the joint and the arm10 behind the joint. Further, there is nothing passing over the sides ofthe joint to add presture thereto, and the arms 9 and 1t relieve theswollen joint from lateral friction and pressure, while the relativelynarrow web of the X-formation is comfortably received in the sulcus. Itwill be especially noted that there is no seam in the structure or novariance in stiffness in that portion of the pad directly in contactwith the body. If the junction between the superposed body parts isconsidered a seam, it cannot come in contact with the digit of the userbecause only comfortable feeling foam material contacts the flesh, andthis material is soft and yielding so that the terminal edge of the bodypart 4 causes no discomfort. Furthermore, the pad may be readily removedand accurately replaced when desired, laundered at will, and is highlydurable and long lasting.

It will be understood that the blanks illustrated in FIGURES 5 to 11inclusive are folded so that the body parts are in superposed engagementand form a pad of the general character above described, in eachinstance.

In FIGURE 5 I have illustrated a pad having variant body parts 15 and 16with variant aflliction receiving apertures 17 and 18, respectively,therein. In this instance the X-formation joining the body partsembodies arms 19 that are curvate and outwardly convex, and the web ofthe X-formation is narrow and elongated as seen at 20. This form of padprovides larger openings between the arms through which the sides of aswollen joint may project and the web 20 comfortably seats in the sulcusof a deformed joint.

In FIGURE 6 I have illustrated a pad highly desirable for use with anextremely contracted joint. In this instance the pad comprises like bodyparts 21 and 22 and like aflliction receiving openings 23 and 24respectively therein. These body parts are joined by an X-formation ofthe character above described, with the exception that the web 25 ismade additionally narrow so as to be of less width than any of the armsof the X-formation so as to seat comfortably in a deep and tight sulcus.

In FIGURE 7 I have illustrated a form of pad that might be used with acontracted or deformed joint in which the sulcus is so deep and tightthat it cannot comfortably receive any portion of the pad structure.This pad embodies like body parts 26 and 27, by way of illustration,with like affliction receiving openings 28 and 29 respectively therein.The body parts are joined by a pair of straight straps 30 and 31 spacedwell apart so that one strap will embrace the digit well in front of thejoint and the other strap embrace the digit well behind the joint. Thejoint, swollen or otherwise will be relieved of friction and pressure bythe spaced arms at the sides thereof, the affliction on top of the jointwell protected by the pad body parts in superposed condition, and therewill be no opportunity for the pad to slip out of proper position.

In FIGURE 8 I have illustrated a form of pad that might well be utilizedin the case of a severely swollen joint. In this instance, by way ofexample only, I have illustrated a pad having variant body portions 32and 33 with variant afiliction receiving openings 34 and 35 respectivelytherein. The body parts are connected by an X-formation embodying arms36 converging to a web 37. In this instance, however, the arms 36 arethicker from each body portion to the web, while the web itself betweenthe dotted lines 38 of FIGURE 8 is much thinner or of the originalthickness of the material. One way of thickening the arms, as seen inFIGURE 9, is to add an additional layer 39 of the material to theoutside of the arms. This may be secured to each arm by a suitablestretchable cement or in any other desired manner. In the resultant pad,the four arms 36 will therefore be of substantially the same thicknessas the superposed body parts together. Thus, the arms being disposedupon each side of a swollen joint will adequately protect the sides ofthat joint from friction and pressure even though the joint be in aseverely swollen condition. The web being much thinner than the armswill better fit in the sulcus of the joint.

In FIGURE a form of pad is disclosed having means to underlie anafiiicted digit such as a hammer toe and lend cushioning support to theforward portion of the toe directed toward ultimately straightening thetoe. In this instance the pad comprises like body portions 40 and 41with like apertures 42 and 43 therein, the body parts being connectedtogether by an X-formation generally indicated by numeral 44, all in themanner above de-' scribed. This pad embodies a forward projection 45extending from the web of the X-formation. Preferably this projectiongradually widens in a forward direction terminating in an end portionwhich may be cupped as indicated at 46 in the magnified showing ofFIGURE 11. The distal end of the hammer toe may then seat in this cuppedformation and there will be some cushioning support beneath the hammertoe throughout that portion thereof in front of the deformed joint.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that I have provided acomfortably fitting and highly effective digital embracing surgical padcontaining no seams or reinforcements to contact the flesh of the user,which will effectively remain in position against accidentaldislodgement from its proper location, which may readily be modified tofit afflictions of different character, cost of manufacture in any butthe most negligible amount, and which in any form may be economicallymanufactured, is long lived, and may be removed and replaced as well aslaundered at will.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effectedwithout departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the presentinvention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A digit embracing surgical pad comprising a pair of superposed bodyparts secured together, and an X formation between and connecting saidbody parts and forming a digit loop with the web of the X formationopposite said body parts to fit the sulcus of a joint.

2. A digit embracing surgical pad comprising a pair of superposed bodyparts secured together, and an X formation connecting said body partsand forming a digit loop, the arms of said X formation being arcuatewith the convex side of the arc outward.

3. A digit embracing surgical pad comprising a pair of superposed bodyparts secured together, and a pair of spaced straps connecting said bodyparts by extending from one body part to the other and forming loopmeans to encircle a digit, said straps being joined together oppositesaid superposed body parts.

4. A digit embracing surgical pad comprising a pair of superposed bodyparts secured together, and an X formation connecting said body parts byextending from one body part to the other and forming a digit loop, theweb of said X formation being narrower than the arms thereby joined anddisposed opposite said body parts to better fit the sulcus of a joint.

5. A digit embracing surgical pad comprising a pair of superposed bodyparts secured together, and an X formation connecting said body partsand forming a digit loop, the arms of said X formation being thickerthan the web of formation to better relieve a swollen joint therebetweenfrom pressure.

6. A hammer toe corrective pad, comprising a pair of body partssuperposed and secured together in face to face relationship, anX-formation integral with and joining said body parts to form toeencircling means with the web of said X-formation underlying the sulcusof a hammer toe, and a forward projection leading from the web of theX-formation to underlie the hammer toe.

7. A hammer toe corrective pad, comprising a pair of body partssuperposed and secured together in face to face relationship, anX-formation integral with and joining said body parts to form toeencircling means with the web of said X-forrnation underlying the sulcusof a hammer toe, and a forward projection integral with said formationand leading from the web thereof, said projection gradually increasingin width outwardly and terminating in a cupped portion to receive thedistal end of the hammer toe.

8. A digit encircling surgical pad comprising a pair of superposed bodyparts secured together, and an X formation having the arm ends at oneend joined to the side of one body part at spaced points thereof and thearm ends at the other end similarly joined to the other body partthereby forming a digit loop, the intersection of the arms of saidformation being at a part of the loop opposite said body parts to fit inthe sulcus of a joint.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 872,394 12/07Weakley 128-153 895,145 8/08 Bauer l28153 1,092,836 4/14 Hart. 1,898,0922/33 McCormick 128166.5 2,054,768 9/36 Gale. 2,599,523 6/52 Dorr l281532,888,013 5/59 Levitt 128-153 2,923,292 2/60 Dorr 128-l53 FOREIGNPATENTS 622,567 11/35 Germany.

RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner. JORDAN FRANKLIN, Examiner.

1. A DIGIT EMBRACING SURGICAL PAD COMPRISING A PAIR OF SUPERPOSED BODYPARTS SECURED TOGETHER, AND AN X FORMATION BETWEEN AND CONNECTING SAIDBODY PARTS AND FORMING A DIGIT LOOP WITH THE WEB OF THE X FORMATIONOPPOSITE SAID BODY PARTS TO FIT THE SULCUS OF A JOINT.